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Attitudes of oncologists toward euthanasia in Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2006

ATILLA SENIH MAYDA ,
ERDEM ÖZKARA  and
FUNDA ÇORAPÇIOĞLU
ATILLA SENIH MAYDA
Affiliation:
Düzce Medical School, İzzet Baysal University
ERDEM ÖZKARA
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University
FUNDA ÇORAPÇIOĞLU
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Kocaeli University
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Abstract

There have been intensive debates about euthanasia and attempts to change laws on euthanasia in all countries. What doctors and particularly oncologists think about euthanasia must be taken into consideration, as their voices are crucial in this dialogue. The aim of this study was to find out how Turkish doctors approach euthanasia in the context of cancer. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 85 oncologists out of a total 800 in active oncology practice.

Of the oncologists surveyed, 43.8% did not object to euthanasia. Some 33.7% had been asked to perform euthanasia and 41.5% believed that euthanasia was performed secretly although it is against the law in Turkey. Forty-two doctors (50.6%) noted that they had withdrawn treatment in patients.

Doctors who encounter terminally ill patients with cancer should update their knowledge about patients' rights and euthanasia. Doctors, who are often asked to perform euthanasia, especially in the cancer setting, can help to illuminate the debates about euthanasia.

Keywords

EuthanasiaAttitudes of doctorsOncologyPatient rights
Type
BRIEF REPORT
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 221 - 225
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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